Lynn Green

General Secretary

The General Secretary serves our Union by offering spiritual leadership within the context of the Word and prayer.

The General Secretary is the leader of our Union, both internally in supporting, guiding and encouraging our Associations, Colleges and Churches in mission, and also externally in representing the Union in the UK and abroad, in both Christian and secular settings. Read more...

Ken Benjamin

President

The President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain is elected annually and takes office in May.

The President’s main role is as a communicator / facilitator of our Union’s vision and mission. The President travels around our Union, engaging with local churches, regional Associations and Colleges. Read more...

Governance

Online Directory

What is Christianity?

Our Union of over 2000 churches is supported by staff in thirteen regional associations and three specialist teams based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Our six Baptist Colleges prepare men and women for ministry and offer ongoing development and training.

Home Mission Grants are given to support a variety of ministries in and through Baptist churches and chaplains across the country. It also enables all our churches and ministers to be supported and helped through the work of the Regional Associations and the specialist teams in Didcot.

Other areas of work

Safeguarding for the protection of adults and children from harm, abuse or neglect. Every church should adopt safeguarding policy statements for children, young people, and adults at risk. We help churches maintain safe environments for all, with processes to follow should something go wrong, and support for everyone involved.

Resources Library

Our Resources Library has a wealth of guideline leaflets and information to help you and your church on a range of topics. You can also find a range of booklets, cards and our Baptists Together magazine available to buy from the Online Shop.

A coalition of faith based charities called ‘Christians Together Against Loneliness’ has been consulted about the campaign - and is encouraging churches to engage with it. There is a dedicated website (www.letstalkloneliness.co.uk) with ideas and resources, and more information below.

The year-long campaign is being launched in response to increasing evidence of the serious nature of loneliness, such as:

More than 9 million people of all ages say they ‘always’ or ‘often’ feel lonely

With more than 50 per cent of those aged 75 living alone, older people are at greater risk of isolation.

3.9m older people consider television as their main form of company.

Why should churches and individual Christians get involved?

During recent years, social isolation and loneliness have become increasing concerns nationally, and the UK is often quoted as the ‘loneliness capital of Europe’.

Jeremy Sharpe, National Director of the charity Linking Lives UK, is Chair of Christians Together Against Loneliness. He said, ‘The Bible teaches us that we are all to care for those on the margins of society and, by definition, many people struggling with loneliness are often unseen. This provides a challenge in identifying those most at risk, but also provides an opportunity for us all to be alert and aware of those for whom this could be a part of their day to day lives.

'It is also often the case, particularly in rural areas, that church buildings are the only places to meet within the community. This should therefore provide a greater impetus to explore ways to reach and engage with people within our local neighbourhoods.’

How can churches and individual Christians get involved?

There are many ways that churches and individual Christians can engage with this campaign. The dedicated website, www.letstalkloneliness.co.uk will provide ideas and resources as well as details of organisations already providing support and services across the UK. There will be several suggestions providing ways in which individuals can make a difference in their local area.

Churches and Christian organisations can get involved by linking any existing groups, clubs or activities into the national campaign on a local level by advertising on social media and elsewhere. There are also various excellent existing models of community projects which address loneliness, available to churches and Christian organisations. These include Care Home Friends (www.carehomefriends.org.uk), Linking Lives UK (www.linkinglives.uk), Parish Nursing UK (www.parishnursing.org.uk), Places of Welcome (CUF) and Anna Chaplaincy for Older People through BRF’s The Gift of Years (www.thegiftofyears.org.uk).

Jeremy said, ‘It has been encouraging to see the level of interest in the issue of loneliness and social isolation increasing over recent years. In many ways, the church has been at the forefront of building strong community relations for many centuries, and we have been pleased to be able to engage with and support this national campaign as it has developed.

'We would encourage all churches and Christians to consider at least one way in which they can engage in this key issue of our time.’

CTAL is made up of 10 organisations, all of which have an interest in addressing loneliness and social isolation. The coalition meets on a regular basis to discuss ways in which they can work together, and to share information about national initiatives with churches and faith groups.

Related: The silent epidemic of loneliness Loneliness and social isolation is an increasingly significant issue in communities. The church can be a key part of the answer, writes Jeremy Sharpe